By Zweli Martin Dlamini

HOSEA:King Mswati is battling to silence the calls for democratic reforms in this tiny Kingdom,two years after he allegedly unleashed his soldiers and the police to shoot and kill dozens of civilians.

Mswati rules eSwatini as an absolute Monarch with Executive,Judicial and Legislative powers,political parties are banned and or restricted from participating in elections.

The King recently defied the Southern African Development Community(SADC) that recommended an inclusive political dialogue to resolve the ongoing political crisis saying the environment was not conducive for a dialogue.

But he went on to announce that this year, his Tinkhundla undemocratic elections would be held.

Mswati subsequently deployed the police in the rural areas to shoot those who were against the elections that excludes political parties.

On Tuesday evening,kaLiba Royal Kraal(uMphakatsi) was allegedly burnt by residents,this comes after officials from the Elections and Boundaries Commission(EBC) visited the area for a civic voter education. 

The residents rejected the elections and demanded the release of their Member of Parliament(MP) Bacede Mabuza who was arrested for challenging Mswati,demanding democracy.

As the tension escalated at Hosea, Mvuselelo Mkhabela,a vibrant member of the Communist Party of Swaziland(CPS)was shot and subsequently abducted by the police.

Speaking to this Swaziland News on Wednesday morning,Njabulo Ndwandwe,a resident of the area confirmed the burning of the Royal Kraal.

“It’s true,we saw fire at the Royal Kraal in the evening but we couldn’t go out because of the chaos that manifested during the day when Elections Commission officials arrived here,”he said.

A questionnaire was sent to eSwatini Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo,however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Reached for comments,Sikelela Dlamini, the Secretary General of the pro-democracy MultiStakeholder Forum(MSF) said what happened at Hosea on Tuesday was an indication that Swazis were firm in their demand for democracy.

“What happened at Hosea indicates that Swazis are firm in their demand for democracy regardless of the regime’s efforts to suppress dissenting voices.We continue to appeal for an inclusive political dialogue not Sibaya. We want a dialogue that meets international standards to resolve such political situations,” said the MSF Secretary General.